The Sciku Project

Yes to gratitude
Negativity bias;
Dino threats begone

by Debbie Lee

Brains are both tricky and powerful. In this article, Mark Travers talks to “negativity bias”, how it works and how we can overcome it.

Once upon a time, this bias was a survival mechanism of human psychology. Helped us avoid predators like dinosaurs. However, in modern relationships, negativity bias can erode connection, happiness and trust. This is true even in healthy partnerships, minor annoyances become grievances, plus acts of kindness may be misinterpreted.

Travers suggests 3 ways to counteract negativity bias:

1. Instead of fixating on problems (rumination or replay), retrain your brain to balance the narrative (reflect, recognise, reframe).
2. Avoid assuming the worst of intentions, try cognitive reappraisal (a technique that helps us pause and reframe thoughts before reacting).
3. Strive against a confirmation bias, argue the opposite side. Eg: challenge our own assumptions (try not to default a negative mindset or outlook).

Further reading:

‘3 Ways ‘Negativity Bias’ Harms Your Relationship — By A Psychologist’, 2025, Travers, M., Forbes, available: https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2025/03/26/3-ways-negativity-bias-harms-your-relationship—by-a-psychologist/

Author bio:

Debbie Lee (@lee_debbie):
Writing from places light and dark,
awkward data nerd,
elegant word nerd,
dreaming in colour,
clumsily balancing love, hope,
kindness with pragmatic realism.

Read more sciku by Debbie: ‘Technomancy’, ‘Toxic Male’, and ‘Language of fungi’.

the vast universe
divorced the Hubble constant
citing lack of space

by Martina Matijević

A recent study confirms that the universe is expanding faster than theoretical models predict, adding more evidence to the ongoing “Hubble tension” crisis.

Researchers measured the Hubble constant using a highly precise distance measurement to the Coma Cluster, revealing a local expansion rate of 76.5 kilometers per second per megaparsec. This new data challenges current cosmological models and suggests that adjustments to our understanding of the universe’s growth may be necessary.

Further reading:

‘Dan Scolnic Shows that the Universe Is Still Full of Surprises’, 2025, Chelini, M.C., Trinity Communications, available: https://trinity.duke.edu/news/dan-scolnic-shows-universe-still-full-surprises

‘The universe is expanding too fast to fit theories: Hubble tension in crisis’, 2025, Duke University, ScienceDaily, available: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250117161235.htm

‘The Hubble Tension in Our Own Backyard: DESI and the Nearness of the Coma Cluster’, 2025, Scolnic, D., et al., The Astrophysical Journal Letters, available: https://doi.org/10.3847/2041-8213/ada0bd

Author bio:

Martina Matijević has orbited the Sun 23 times, making her 23 years old in Earth’s timekeeping system. A science enthusiast and poet, her work has appeared in 5-7-5 Haiku Journal, View from Atlantis and other. You can discover more of her poetry here: https://tinamatijev.wixsite.com/martina-matijevi

Read another sciku by Matijević here: ‘Supersonic Winds’ and ‘The quasar’.